Quick wire attaching and releasing terminal and switch construction



June 20, 1967 D. F. NOONAN 3,327,085

QUICK WIRE ATTACHING AND RELEASING TERMINAL AND SWITCH CONSTRUCTION Filed Sept. 24, 1965 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 1 I F I 56 3836/28 54 M4858} l /8 FIG-I; 34 L;

INVENTOR.

DONALD F. NOONAN & WW

HIS ATTORNEYS June 20, 1967 D. F. NOONAN QUICK WIRE ATTACHING AND RELEASING TERMINAL AND SWITCH CONSTRUCTION 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 24, 1965 INVENTOR.

HIS ATTORNEYS June 20, 1967 D. F. NOONAN 3,327,085

QUICK WIRE ATTACHING AND RELEASING TERMINAL AND SWITCH CONSTRUCTION Filed Sept. 24, 1965 s Sheets-Sheet 5 Y H I Y r rI H uumummym r Y HG. l2 6 82 I3 H6 20 X 3 74 INVENTOR. DONALD F. NOONAN BY HIS ATTORNEYS United States Patent Ofi ice 3,327,085 Patented June 20, 1967 3,327,085 QUICK WIRE ATTACHING AND RELEASING TERMINAL AND SWITCH CONSTRUCTION Donald F. Noonan, Grove City, Ohio, assignor to Robertshaw Controls Company, Richmond, Va., 21 corporation of Delaware Filed Sept. 24, 1965, Ser. No. 489,853 20 Claims. (Cl. 200-168) This invention relates to a quick wiring terminal and switch construction.

One of the features of this invention includes a quick line terminal into which a conductive wire may be inserted, and in which terminal such wire is then automatically secured.

Another feature of this invention includes a releasing means for the conductor wire which may be operated to release wire that has been secured within the terminal.

Another feature of this invention includes a spring clip formed to have one end inserted in the quick wiring terminal, automatically to secure the conductor wire within the terminal, said spring clip also having means to secure the clip in a switch base and the like to maintain the clip in proper relationship to the quick wiring terminal.

The spring clip may be made of sheet metal and the like and may have a main straight body with an angular end portion to be secured in base and with a right angle hook at the other end, such hook extending through a longitudinal slot in the terminal, with a reverse hook portion extending along the inner surface of a longitudinal opening in the terminal, which is eifective to secure the conductor wire within such opening in the terminal.

Other features of this invention are apparent from this description, the appended claimed subject matter, and/or the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is an end view of a switch base, which base is provided with three quick wiring terminals each terminal being made according to this invention.

. FIGURE 2 is a side view, partly in cross section, taken along line 22 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a cross section taken along the line 33 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is an elevation of the central quick wiring terminal shown in'FIGURE- 1, such figure being representative of the wire attaching means of all three terminals shown in FIGURES 1-3.

FIGURE 5 is a cross section, taken along the line 5-5 of FIGURE 4, and showing the spring clip, and a conductor wire being inserted into the terminal.

FIGURE 6 is a view similar to FIGURE 5, but showing the conductor wire inserted in the terminal and secured therein.

FIGURE 7 is a view in perspective, and partly in cross section, showing the terminal of FIGURES 4-6, as an example, with the hook end of the end clip inserted into the terminal.

FIGURE 8 is a perspective view of the spring clip.

FIGURE 9 is a diagrammatic cross-sectional view of a complete switch construction for the base shown in FIGURES 1-3.

FIGURE 10 is an'end view of the bottom cover shown in FIGURE 9, taken from line 1010 of FIGURE 9.

FIGURE 11 is a side view taken from the line 11-11 of FIGURE 10.

FIGURE 12 is a side view of the cover shown in FIG- URE l1, taken from the line 1212 of FIGURE 11.

FIGURE 13 is an end view of FIGURE 12, taken from line 13-13 of FIGURE 12.

FIGURE 14 is a side view of the switch construction shown in FIGURE 9, drawn to actual scale in the application drawings, to illustrate a typical use of the invention.

FIGURE 15 is a view of the bottom end of FIG- URE 14.

Certain words may be used in this specification, and in the claimed subject matter, which indicate direction, relative position, and the like. Such words are used for the sake of brevity and clearness. However, it is to be understood that such words are used only in connection with the illustrations in the drawings, and, that in actual use, the parts so described may have entirely ditferent direction, relative position, etc. Examples of such words are vertical, horizontal, upper, and lower, etc.

A switch construction according to this invention may include an electrically non-conductive base 10 for the switch, and the like, having a generally fiat external surface 12, FIGURES l-3, which surface 12 may be an end surface of the base 10, and which may be countersunk by stepped walls 14 and 16 extending inwardly from the outer rim 18. The step construction 14, 16, and the rim 18 may be for the purpose of receiving the cover 20, FIGURES 9-13, more fully elsewhere described.

One or more electrically conducting conductor posts, such as 22A, 22B, and 22C, may be embedded in the base 10. These posts may be of different lengths, but the wire receiving and securing means in such posts may be substantially identical.

Each of these conductor posts 22A etc. may have a post end portion 24 which may extend out of the base external surface 12. Such end portion 24 may be provided with an end bead 26. Additionally, the conductor posts 22A, etc., may have one or more flanges 28 and/or 30 to insure that such conductors 22A, etc., are firmly embedded and held in the plastic body of the base 10.

The post end portion 24 may extend out of base external surface 12 with a groove 32, which may be circular, and which surrounds the post end portion 24. A straight, tangential, relatively wide groove 34 may extend from the circular groove 32. This tangential groove 34- may have an angular end groove portion 36, which may be readily narrow, and which may be at end of the straight tangential groove 34.

If desired, a rectangular hole 38 may be provided along one side of the groove 36. This hole 38 has no function with respect to the switch operation, but is provided, so that if the base is molded from plastic material with a relatively narrow tool to make the narrow groove 36, then such narrow tool may be reinforced by a rectangular, thicker tool part, around which the hole 38 may be formed or molded; Such hole 38 may be as deep as are the grooves 32, 34.

. The conductor post 22A, etc. may have a longitudinal post opening 40, which may be square in cross section, to form a central tubular post opening with a tubular side Wall construction which may have four vertical walls 41, 42, 43 and 44. These walls 41-44 may extend inwardly from such post end to the bottom wall 46, One of these side walls, such as wall 41, may be provided with a longitudinal slot 48, which extends from the post end inwardly to a slanting slot bottom-wall 50, which is abovethe bottom wall 46 of the opening 40.

A spring clip 52, which may be made of resilient sheet metal, may have a straight main body 54, FIGURE 8, with an angular end portion 56 at one end, and with a right angled hook end portion 58 at the other clip end. The hook end portion 58 may extend through the longitudinal slot 48, and with a reverse hook portion 60 extending along the inner surface of one of the vertical walls, such as vertical wall 41.

The reverse hook portion 60 has a conductor wire engaging slanting wall 62 with a relatively sharp edge 64 extending toward such one vertical wall 41 and with another relatively sharp edge 66 to engage the conductor 3 wire'68, and extending toward the oppositely positioned vertical wall 43.

The spring clip 52 may also have a central tab 70 on such main body 54 which may be pressed downwardly, in FIGURE 8, to flex the main body 54 and the slanting wall 62 and to cause the spring clip 52 to be deflected to cause the reverse-lower edge 66 to be moved away from the, oppositely positioned wall 43, to release the wire 68.

When the tab 70 is pressed downwardly, with respect to FIGURE 8, the bottom edge 72 of the main body of the spring clip 52 is bent or flexed toward the viewer inside the relatively wide tangential groove 34 of FIGURE 1. This causes the hook portion 60 to be turned or biased in 'a clockwise direction toward the viewer, which causes the force of wire engaging edge 66 to be reduced sulficiently to allow the wire 68 to be removed from the opening 40 of the terminal 22A, 22B, or 22C.

In FIGURES 5 and 6, a relatively solid and still conductor wire, such as of from 24 gauge through 12 gauge may be inserted into the longitudinal terminal opening 40. When the wire first engages the slanting wall 62 of the spring clip 52, as in FIGURE 5, a leftward bias is produced on the slanting wall 62 which is transmitted.

through the longitudinal main body 54.

The bent clip end 56 is held relatively tightly in the narrow groove 36, FIGURE 1, and does not move. However, the straight main body 54 starts to twist, with the lower edge 72 being bent toward the viewer in FIGURE 8, or leftward, as shown in FIGURE 6. This twisting .action takes place in the relatively wide straight tangential groove 34. The distance leftward of the edge 72, in FIG- URE 6 will depend on the thickness of the wire 68.

The solid wire 68 is generally pushed all the way in until its end engages the bottom wall.

When the tab 70 is pushed downwardly, for the purpose of releasing the wire 68, such lower edge 72 is given a leftwardbias, in FIGURE 6, which reduces the bite of the sharp edge 66 on the wire 68, so such wire can be removed.

During normal use, after the wire 68 has been pushed in, the sharp edge 66 bites into the side, of the copper wire 68, and the sharp edge 64 bites into the inner sur. face of the adjacent wall 41 of the opening 40. Any outward pull on the wire increases the bite on the wall 41 and on the side of the wire 68. The other side of the wire 68 is wedged against the opposite side 43 of the opening 40. This produces a firm hold on the wire, as long as the tab 70 is not downwardly actuated to release the wire 68.

A stranded wire, of sufiicient thickness, may be inserted in the opening 40 and may vbe secured in place by the same general principles above described. However, the tab is first actuated downwardly to spread the edge 66 away from the opening side 43 to allow the stranded wire to be inserted inwardly into the opening 40. After the stranded wire is so inserted, then the tab 70 may be releasedand the stranded wire is then firmly secured in the terminal opening 40.

When the cover 20 is used, the conductor wire 68, or the equivalent stranded wire, is first inserted in the respective cover opening 74 and then into the conductor longitudinal opening 40.

A cover 20, FIGURES 9-13, which may be relatively flat, may be provided to cover the end portion of the base 10, FIGURES 1-3. Such cover 20 may have one or more conductor wire receiving openings 74, through which the conductor wire or wires 68 may be pushed into the longitudinal opening 40 of the conductor posts 22A, etc. These openings 74 are aligned with the conductor openings 40.

The cover 20 may also have one or more tab actuating openings 76, which may be aligned with the central tabs 70 of the spring clip 52, FIGURE 8, through which an actuating member or pin, not shown, may be inserted to 4 actuate the tabs 70, to release the conductor wires when desired.

The cover 20 has three inwardly directedcylinders 78, FIGURES 11, 1'2 and 9, having inner cylindrical surfaces which are slightly smaller in diameter than the largest diameters of the end beads 26 at the terminal ends 24. When the cover 20 is applied to the rim 18 of the base 10, the cylinders 78 tightly fit around the beads 26, as shown in FIGURE 9 to aid in holding the cover 20 on the base 10.

The cover 20 also has two. longitudinal bars 82, FIG- URES 11 and 12, which fit closely inside the walls 14, FIGURES 1 and 3, to aid in holding the cover 20 on the base 10. Additionally, a short tongue 84, FIGURES 11 and 12, engages the shallow channel 86 to aid in locating the cover 20 on the base 10. Rounded ends 88 for bars 82, FIGURE 11, aids in locating the cover 20 on the base.

FIGURE 9 shows'how the terminals 22A, 22B and 22C may be connected to a snap switch construction 90 at the other end 92' of the base 10. Such other end 92' may be provided with a second removable cover 91','FIG- URE 9, which may be secured to and released from the base 10 by screws or the like, not shown.

For example, the other end 92 of the terminal 22A may be connected to the stationary contact structure 94 by a screw 96 threaded into a tapped opening 98 in the end of the terminal 22A. Likewise, a second stationary contact construction 100 may be similarly connected to the other end 102 of the terminal 223, by a similar screw construction. The end of the stationary contact construction 100 may be supported on the stationary base portion 101. The snap blade construction 104 may likewise be connected to the other end 106 of terminal 22C, such as by screw and washer construction 108. The snap blade construction may include a rigid stationary blade 110, a movable, flexible snap blade 112, and a C-spring .114 with its ends' connected respectively to the blades 110 and 112 in a well angular portion 56 at one end to retain the clip in the molded or otherwise formed tight retaining slot 36. The

remaining end of the spring clip52 is formed into the.

hook portion 58 to allow insertion intothe longitudinal terminal slot 48 and to provide the nearly knife edges 64 and 66 which should be sufficiently sharp or relatively sharp to bite into the wire 68 and wall 41.The slanting surface 62 is inclined to permit the conductor or wire 68 to deflect the spring clip 52 and allow easy insertion of the solid wi-re 68.-

The terminal is designed with the square hole or opening 40 and the slot 48 to receive the hook portion 58 of the spring clip. The slot is provided with angular clearance at 50 to allow the spring clip to, be deflected to permit the wire 68 to enter completely into the square hole 40.

The terminal post and retaining slots 36, 34 and 48 are arranged in a manner to permit the insertion of the bent end 56 of the spring clip into the retaining slot 36 and the knifelike hook end 58 into the square hole 40.

When a'solid wire 68 is inserted into the square hole 40 the wire 68 will contact the slanting portion of'surface 62 of the spring clip 52, as in FIGURE 5. Additional insertion force is applied to the wire which causes the,

the neutral position and retain the wire between the knife edge 66 and the side 43 of the square hole. When a force is applied to the wire, to remove the wire, the knife edge will bind or bite into the wall 41 and side of the wire 68 and retain the wire in the hole 40. Any additional removal force will increase the retaining action of the spring clip.

To release the conductor from the terminal post, the tab 70 is depressed, by the insertion of a suitable blunt tool into the cover openings 76 causing the knife edge 66 to be deflected away and to release the wire 68, to allow the wire to be removed from the hole 40.

A stranded wire may be inserted through the cover hole 74 into the post hole 40 after the spring clip 52 is first deflected or depressed by the insertion of the blunt tool through the cover opening 76 and against the tab 70 to permit the stranded wire to move beyond the knife edge 66. When the tool force is removed from the tab 70 the stranded wire will be retained by the same principle as with the solid wire.

The cover hole 74 in FIGURE 13 is shown with a thin film which may be present after the molding operation. This film is removed either at the factory or by the user before the wire is inserted. Similar films may be provided for the openings 76, if desired.

A shallow locating channel 75 may be provided on the outer surface of the cover 20.

The main bodies of the terminal posts may be made of any suitable relatively conductive metal and may be coated, mainly for decorative purposes, with a thin copper coating. For example, the main bodies of the posts may be made of commercial zinc or any suitable zinc alloy. One such zinc alloy that has been used is Zamak-3, which is well known in this industry.

The base and covers may be made of any well known electrically non-conductive moldable material, such as Nylon 101, Cyclolac ABS, and any of the other well known materials of this type.

A new, unobvious and useful quick wiring terminal and switch construction have thus been provided.

While the form of the invention now preferred has been disclosed as required by statutes, other forms may be used, all coming within the scope of the claimed subject matter which follows,

What is claimed is:

1. In combination:

an electrically non-conductive base having a base external surface;

an electrically conductive conductor post embedded in said base and having a post end portion extending out of said base external surface, with a circular groove in said base surrounding said post end portion and with a straight tangential groove extending from said circular groove, said tangential groove having an angular end groove portion at the end of said tangential groove,

said conductor post having a square cross-sectional central longitudinal post opening with four vertical walls extending inwardly from said post end to a bottom wall, and with a longitudinal slot in one of said vertical walls;

a sheet metal spring clip having a main body in said straight tangential groove, with an angular end portion in said angular end groove portion, and with a right angled hook end portion at the other end extending through said longitudinal slot and with a reverse hook portion extending along the inner surface of said one of said vertical walls, said reverse hook portion having a conductor wire engaging slanting :wall with a relatively sharp edge extending toward and to engage and bite the inner surface of said one of said vertical walls and with another relatively sharp edge to engage and bite said conductor wire and extending toward the oppositely positioned vertical wall, and said spring clip having a central tab on said main body to permit said spring clip to be deflected to cause said reverse lower edge to be moved away from said oppositely positioned end Wall.

2. A combination according to claim 1 in which a relatively flat cover is provided to cover said post end portion, said cover having a conductor wire reeciving opening aligned with said post opening.

3. A combination according to claim 2 with said cover having another opening aligned with said central tab.

4. A combination according to claim 1 in which a plurality of posts and spring clips are provided in said base similar to said first named post and spring clip.

5. A combination according to claim 4 in which a flat cover is provided to cover said post end portions and said cover has conductor wire openings aligned with post openings in said conductor posts.

6. A combination according to claim 5 with said cover having a plurality of openings aligned with central tabs in said spring clips.

7. A combination according to claim 4 in which said conductor posts have their other post ends extending out of another base surface;

and a switch construction attached to said other post ends.

8. A combination according to claim 7 in which said switch construction includes two stationary contact constructions connected respectively to two of said other post ends and a snap blade construction connected to a third other post end.

9. In combination:

an electrically non-conductive base having a base external surface;

an electrically conductive conductor post embedded in said base and having a post end portion extending out of said base external surface,

said conductor post having a longitudinal post opening extending inwardly from said post end, and with a longitudinal slot along said longitudinal post opening, said post opening having a side wall portion adjacent said slot and a side wall portion opposite said slot, said side wall portions having inner surfaces,

a sheet metal spring clip having a straight main body positioned loosely in a relatively wide groove in said base external surface with one end relatively tightly positioned in a relatively tight groove which is connected to said relatively wide groove,

said spring clip having its other end portion passing through said longitudinal slot into said longitudinal post opening and having a hook portion in said post opening with a slanting surface with a sharp wire engaging one edge to bite into and engage a conductor wire and push said wire against the inner surface of the side wall portion of said post opening which is opposite to said slot, said slanting surface having an other sharp edge to bite into and engage the inner surface of the side wall portion of said post opening which is adjacent said slot.

10. A combination according to claim 9 in which a plurality of posts and spring clips are provided in said base similar to said first name post and spring clip.

11. A combination according to claim 10 in which a flat cover is provided to cover said post end portions, and said cover has conductor wire openings aligned with post openlngs in said conductor posts.

12. A combination according to claim 11 in which said spring clips are provided with wire releasing tabs and in which said cover is provided with a plurality of openings aligned with said wire releasing tabs.

13. A combination according to claim 10 in which said conductor posts have their other ends extending out of another base surface;

and 51 switch construction attached to said other post en s.

14. A combination according to'claim 13 in which said switch construction includes two stationary contact constructions connected respectively to two of said other post ends, and a snap blade construction connected to a third other post end.

15. In combination:

an electrically non-conductive base having a base body with opposite first and second external surfaces;

an electrically conductive conductor post embedded in said base body and having a first post end portion with a quick wire attachment opening exposed adjacent said first external surface and having a second post end exposed adjacent said second external surface, said attachment opening having a side wall construction with an interior surface;

quick wire attachment means in said attachment opening including yielding and biting means yieldingly to permit a wire to be inserted in said opening between said yielding and biting means and said side wall construction when said wire is inserted in said opening, and biting said wire and the interior of said wall construction to resist withdrawal of said wire and said yielding and biting means fromsaid opening when said wire is pulled outwardly from said opening, and including means for causing said yielding and biting means to release said wire for with drawal from said opening when desired;

and an electrical device connected to said second post end,

16. A combination according to claim 15 in which a first cover is provided for said first post end with a wire receiving opening aligned with said wire attachment opening of said post, and in which a second cover is provided for said electrical device.

17. A combination according to claim 15 in whicha plurality of conductor posts are embedded in said base body similarly to said first named conductor post, said plurality of conductor posts having similar quick wire attachment openings and quick wire attachment means at their first post ends and being connected to electrical devices at their other post ends.

18. A combination according to claim 17 in which a first cover is provided for said first post ends with wire receiving openings aligned with said wire attachment openings in said posts, and in which a second cover is provided for said electrical device.

19. A combination according to claim 18 in which said electrical devices are parts of a switch construction.

20. In combination:

an electrically conductive conductor post having a first end portion with a quick wire attachment opening having a tubular side wall construction, said post having a second end portion for electrically connecting an electrical device to said post;

and quick wire attachment means in said attachment opening including yielding and biting means yieldingly to permit a wire to be inserted in said opening between said yielding and biting means and said side wall construction when said wire is inserted in said opening, and biting said wire and. the interior of said wall constructionto resist withdrawal of said wire and said yielding and biting means from said opening when said wire is pulled outwardly from said opening, and including means for causing said yielding and biting means to release said wire for withdrawal from said opening when desired.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,468,512 4/1949 Riche 20067 2,713,668 7/1955 Gibilisco 200166 3,015,015 12/1961 Wirma 20067 ROBERT K. SCHAEFER, Primary Examiner.

H. O. JONES, Assistant Examiner. 

20. IN COMBINATION: AN ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTIVE CONDUCTOR POST HAVING A FIRST END PORTION WITH A QUICK WIRE ATTACHMENT OPENING HAVING A TUBULAR SIDE WALL CONSTRUCTION, SAID POST HAVING A SECOND END PORTION FOR ELECTRICALLY CONNECTING AN ELECTRICAL DEVICE TO SAID POST; AND QUICK WIRE ATTACHMENT MEANS IN SAID ATTACHMENT OPENING INCLUDING YIELDING AND BITING MEANS YIELDINGLY TO PERMIT A WIRE TO BE INSERTED IN SAID OPENING BETWEEN SAID YIELDING AND BITING MEANS AND SAID SIDE WALL CONSTRUCTION WHEN SAID WIRE IS INSERTED IN SAID OPENING, AND BITING SAID WIRE AND THE INTERIOR OF SAID WALL CONSTRUCTION TO RESIST WITHDRAWAL OF SAID WIRE AND SAID YEILDING AND BITING MEANS FROM SAID OPENING WHEN SAID WIRE IS PULLED OUTWARDLY FROM SAID OPENING, AND INCLUDING MEANS FOR CAUSING SAID YIELDING AND BITING MEANS TO RELEASE SAID WIRE FOR WITHDRAWAL FROM SAID OPENING WHEN DESIRED. 